I'm curious, for the guys complaining how many of you are mid 20's and this was your first "career" out of college?
Working for corporate america in some middle management position isn't always that great either. At least at the airlines layoffs start at the bottom, corporate america usually start with the higher paid middle management, they always know they can replace them with some recent college grad for half the money. Office politics, ass kissing, etc. -- we don't have to deal with that at the airlines.
I did 4 years in the Military and then another 6 in corporate mangement before the airlines. Even with all of the airline BS, I have a way better QOL than any of the those other jobs. Way less stress, way less BS. -- I only speak to my immediate supervisor on average once a year - and I'm the one who initiates the conversation! Good luck with that in corporate america - budgets, staff meetings, trying to reach some impossible sales or production goal. If thats for you - have fun.
Maybe some you should join the military and spend a year or two over in Iraq or Afganistan for a little perspective.
Who says you've got to go work for corporate america? Go work for fed, state, and local gov. That's always an option if corporate America isn't someone's flavor. Just like in flying there just isn't 121, but all kinds of other options that might suit someone's needs. The same goes for the other side. Either way if someone paid me 3X what I made as a regional FO, I'd be all over it. Work is work wherever your at. As long as you have free time to spend and appreciate that mola you're gonna be making its worth it. Whether your doing it flying or not. A job does not define a person, if it does that person needs to get a life...
I'm curious, for the guys complaining how many of you are mid 20's and this was your first "career" out of college?
Working for corporate america in some middle management position isn't always that great either. At least at the airlines layoffs start at the bottom, corporate america usually start with the higher paid middle management, they always know they can replace them with some recent college grad for half the money. Office politics, ass kissing, etc. -- we don't have to deal with that at the airlines.
I did 4 years in the Military and then another 6 in corporate mangement before the airlines. Even with all of the airline BS, I have a way better QOL than any of the those other jobs. Way less stress, way less BS. -- I only speak to my immediate supervisor on average once a year - and I'm the one who initiates the conversation! Good luck with that in corporate america - budgets, staff meetings, trying to reach some impossible sales or production goal. If thats for you - have fun.
Maybe some you should join the military and spend a year or two over in Iraq or Afganistan for a little perspective.
I've posted about this before, I worked in the tech industry before coming to SKYW. In my case, the tech industry was a nightmare. 12 hours+ everyday in front of a computer screen, vacations always cancelled, worked weekends frequently, many deadlines to meet. Pay was good, buy really not leaps and bounds over captain's pay at a regional. Morale was pretty bad in the office place, lots of rounds of layoffs, with no seniority protection. You don't perform, or get paid too much, and you can count on being layed off on the next round.
Now granted my situation here at SKYW is different than alot of others. I got on at the right time, live very close to base, and have always managed to have relatively good seniority in my positions. I've only sat 1 month of reserve in 5 years. Pushing the EMB around, I only fly in Cali for the most part, the weather is great, and I get overnights at home during my trips. I also average about 15 days off per month. Basically, I got lucky, and I realize that. Seems that being in the right place at the right time in this job is what matters most. I know I would be singing a different tune if I were commuting to reserve across the country, with no upgrade in sight (which, if SKYW didn't call first, might have been a reality for me).
Who says you've got to go work for corporate america? Go work for fed, state, and local gov. That's always an option if corporate America isn't someone's flavor. Just like in flying there just isn't 121, but all kinds of other options that might suit someone's needs. The same goes for the other side. Either way if someone paid me 3X what I made as a regional FO, I'd be all over it. Work is work wherever your at. As long as you have free time to spend and appreciate that mola you're gonna be making its worth it. Whether your doing it flying or not. A job does not define a person, if it does that person needs to get a life...
State and government jobs are under heavy fire right now as well. In Cali, many jobs are being eliminated, and the rest are taking furloughs and wage cuts. My brother who is a Math professor at a CSU is taking a 10% paycut, and he's lucky he didn't lose his job. Government jobs are not immune to the issues that plague the airlines, either....
I've posted about this before, I worked in the tech industry before coming to SKYW. In my case, the tech industry was a nightmare. 12 hours+ everyday in front of a computer screen, vacations always cancelled, worked weekends frequently, many deadlines to meet. Pay was good, buy really not leaps and bounds over captain's pay at a regional. Morale was pretty bad in the office place, lots of rounds of layoffs, with no seniority protection. You don't perform, or get paid too much, and you can count on being layed off on the next round.
Now granted my situation here at SKYW is different than alot of others. I got on at the right time, live very close to base, and have always managed to have relatively good seniority in my positions. I've only sat 1 month of reserve in 5 years. Pushing the EMB around, I only fly in Cali for the most part, the weather is great, and I get overnights at home during my trips. I also average about 15 days off per month. Basically, I got lucky, and I realize that. Seems that being in the right place at the right time in this job is what matters most. I know I would be singing a different tune if I were commuting to reserve across the country, with no upgrade in sight (which, if SKYW didn't call first, might have been a reality for me).
I guess you were lucky enough not to have chosen to live "very close" to one of the many Cali bases that were closed....
That doesn't seem to do much for morale, even at SKYW!
State and government jobs are under heavy fire right now as well. In Cali, many jobs are being eliminated, and the rest are taking furloughs and wage cuts. My brother who is a Math professor at a CSU is taking a 10% paycut, and he's lucky he didn't lose his job. Government jobs are not immune to the issues that plague the airlines, either....
I agree that many gov. jobs are under fire. But as you mentioned your brother is taking a 10% paycut. He isn't getting furloughed(except for the 3 days a month off they are taking) from the job. The Cali Highway Patrol is actually exempt from any of the cuts. There are good jobs and bad jobs anywhere whether private or public. Once again as others have mentioned its about timing.
Besides, if your brother was working for an airline he would've taken a 50% paycut and lost his pension too, instead of just a 10% paycut... <sarcasm>
I'm curious, for the guys complaining how many of you are mid 20's and this was your first "career" out of college?
Working for corporate america in some middle management position isn't always that great either. At least at the airlines layoffs start at the bottom, corporate america usually start with the higher paid middle management, they always know they can replace them with some recent college grad for half the money. Office politics, ass kissing, etc. -- we don't have to deal with that at the airlines.
I did 4 years in the Military and then another 6 in corporate mangement before the airlines. Even with all of the airline BS, I have a way better QOL than any of the those other jobs. Way less stress, way less BS. -- I only speak to my immediate supervisor on average once a year - and I'm the one who initiates the conversation! Good luck with that in corporate america - budgets, staff meetings, trying to reach some impossible sales or production goal. If thats for you - have fun.
Maybe some you should join the military and spend a year or two over in Iraq or Afganistan for a little perspective.
The grass is always greener on the other side. I am in my mid twenties, this is my first career, and I could not be happier. My friends from college dread going to the office day after day and wish they could have a job like ours. If you are not happy flying, then get out. But if you love what you do, you can hardly call it work. Although I do hate commuting and early morning east coast shows.
Also, even doctors have something to fear these days. If Obama's health care plan is passed, many doctors will take a bigger pay cut than any pilot has seen.
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